Marine Corps Test Pilots

[pdx]

Hey all,
I have a few questions about test pilot school and the Marine Corps.

1. Does anyone know how often Marines get selected as test pilots?
2. When they are selected, do they go to the Navy squadrons in Pax River, or are there separate Marine squadrons?
3. Is the community you come from a big factor?
4. Finally, is it a bad career move?

I would like to spend as much of my career as possible out killing bad guys, but spending a little time flying assorted helos sounds like a good time also.

 

[RLSki]

I just had a good friend that left for test pilot school. I also just met a LtCol tonight that just did a tour at PAX. If you have the time, I will sit with him tomorrow and pick his brain a bit for you...

 

[pdx]

Thanks, I'd appreciate it. I am still in the HT. There is a lot of good community gouge with all of the instructors, but I don't think there are any test pilot types.

 

[Harrier Dude]

Hey all,
I have a few questions about test pilot school and the Marine Corps.

1. Does anyone know how often Marines get selected as test pilots?
2. When they are selected, do they go to the Navy squadrons in Pax River, or are there separate Marine squadrons?
3. Is the community you come from a big factor?
4. Finally, is it a bad career move?

I would like to spend as much of my career as possible out killing bad guys, but spending a little time flying assorted helos sounds like a good time also.

Here's some gouge answers.

1. Varies year to year. Seems like 3-6 or so, but that's an estimate.
2. They go to either USN or USAF TPS, just like the other services do. When they finish they go to Pax or China lake. Navy squadrons.
3. Yes. They look for certain types for certain upcoming projects and vacancies. I'm not saying they "only look for F-18 or 46 guys", just that they have varying mixes. They may or may not need your type the year you apply.
4. Yes and no. It's mainly a timing issue. Like anything else "bloom where you are planted".

I am NOT a test pilot, but have freinds and former bosses that are/were. Maybe somebody here has more complete info.

 

[HeyJoe]

Here's some gouge answers.

1. Varies year to year. Seems like 3-6 or so, but that's an estimate.
2. They go to either USN or USAF TPS, just like the other services do. When they finish they go to Pax or China lake. Navy squadrons.
3. Yes. They look for certain types for certain upcoming projects and vacancies. I'm not saying they "only look for F-18 or 46 guys", just that they have varying mixes. They may or may not need your type the year you apply.
4. Yes and no. It's mainly a timing issue. Like anything else "bloom where you are planted".

I am NOT a test pilot, but have freinds and former bosses that are/were. Maybe somebody here has more complete info.

Paybacks after TPS are at Developmental (and some Operational Test Squadrons). The ratio of TPS grads is higher in Developmental Test squadrons. Everything the Marines Corps flies will be in a DT or OT VX unit and Marines are there to work on their respective platforms alongside the Navy (Navy and Marines staff the VX units kinda like Training Command).

(note: Harrier Dude left out the preimminent USMC "X" unit, HMX-1; they do way more than fly the president around, they do OT and had a lot to do with MV-22).

 

[Harrier Dude]

My bad. It just doesn't leap to mind as a jet guy. I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of HMX guys are non-test pilots. In fact, I don't recall anybody I know that's been a HMX guy being a test pilot.

 

[skidkid]

Operational Test if different than flight regime testing. Test pilots do tests at PAX that basically build the charts in your NATOPS, the Operational guys work on how all the weapons and systems work.

 

[jarhead]

MARADMIN 266/06 ... hot off the presses

Date signed: 06/12/2006 MARADMIN Number: 266/06

Subject: MCBUL 1542. FISCAL YEAR 2006/2 TEST PILOT SCHOOL (TPS) SELECTION BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT

R 120730Z JUN 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 266/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM MMOA3//
SUBJ/MCBUL 1542. FISCAL YEAR 2006/2 TEST PILOT SCHOOL (TPS)
/SELECTION BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC/30APR1994//
POC/R. C. RICE/MAJOR/CMC WASHINGTON DC MMOA-3/-/TEL: (703) 784-9284//
AMPN/REF A IS MCO 1542.3B UNITED STATES NAVY/UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
TEST PILOT SCHOOL (USN/USAF TPS)//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. FISCAL YEAR 2006/2 TPS SELECTION BOARD IS
SCHEDULED TO CONVENE ON OR ABOUT 10 AUG 06 AND THE DEADLINE FOR
APPLICATION IS 28 JUL 06.
2. TPS SELECTION BOARD 06/2 CONSIDERS APPLICANTS FOR ASSIGNMENT TO
USNTPS CLASS NUMBER 133 CONVENING JUL 07. BECAUSE PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING CONTINUALLY REEVALUATED, AVIATORS OF ALL
MOS'S ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
3. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION, APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS PER THE REF:
3.A. BE A REGULAR OR RESERVE COMMISSIONED OFFICER ON ACTIVE DUTY
IN THE GRADE OF FIRST LIEUTENANT THROUGH MAJOR.
3.B. BE A DESIGNATED NAVAL AVIATOR OR NAVAL FLIGHT OFFICER.
3.C. ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS: A BACHELORS DEGREE IN AN ENGINEERING,
PHYSICAL SCIENCE, COMPUTER SCIENCE OR MATHEMATICS FIELD IS HIGHLY
DESIRABLE. AT A MINIMUM THE APPLICANT SHOULD HAVE SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETED:
3.C.1. COLLEGE PHYSICS OR MECHANICS (STATISTICS AND DYNAMICS).
3.C.2. COLLEGE LEVEL MATHEMATICS THROUGH COLLEGE ALGEBRA, DIFFERENTIAL
AND INTEGRAL CALCULUS.
3.D. A TOTAL OF 1,500 FLIGHT HOURS. IN CASES OF EXCEPTIONAL
OPERATIONAL FLYING EXPERIENCE IN A VARIETY OF AIRCRAFT MODELS, A
MINIMUM OF 1,000 FLIGHT HOURS WILL BE CONSIDERED. APPLICANTS
APPROACHING 1,000 FLIGHT HOURS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
3.E. ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
ARE SET FORTH IN THE REF. OFFICERS APPLYING FOR TPS SELECTION BOARD
06/2 SHALL ROUTE THEIR APPLICATIONS THROUGH THEIR CURRENT ENDORSING
CHAINS. IN THE EVENT AN OFFICER SUBMITS AN APPLICATION AND IS
SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSFERRED, ENDORSEMENTS SHOULD SPECIFICALLY
ADDRESS THE FLYING ABILITIES AND AVIATION LEADERSHIP QUALITIES OF
THE APPLICANT. APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE COLLEGE
TRANSCRIPTS AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING A CURRENT PHOTO IS
SUBMITTED TO MMSB-32 FOR INCLUSION IN THEIR OMPF.
SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO:
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS (MMOA-3)
ATTN: 06/2 TPS BOARD
3280 RUSSELL ROAD
QUANTICO, VA 22134-5103
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AT THIS HEADQUARTERS AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL
NORMALLY NOT BE CONSIDERED, BUT WILL BE HELD FOR CONSIDERATION BY
THE NEXT TPS SELECTION BOARD.
4. OFFICERS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS FOR PAST TPS BOARDS
AND REMAIN INTERESTED SHOULD CONTACT MMOA TO DETERMINE
WHETHER AN UPDATE OF THE PREVIOUS PACKAGE OR SUBMISSION OF A
COMPLETE NEW PACKAGE IS APPROPRIATE TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE AND
COMPETITIVE FOR CONSIDERATION.
5. deleted
6. THIS BULLETIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
7. THIS BULLETIN IS CANCELLED 31 DEC 06.//

 

[pdx]

Thanks for the replies. Any other experiences?